War Horse: What Does Actor Tom Hiddleston (Captain Nicholls) Have to Say About Working with Horses?

December 20, 2011

Any horse person would feel right at home in Captain Nicholls' (seated, played by actor Tom Hiddleston) office/tackroom. He's chatting with Major Stewart, played by Benedict Cumberlatch. You'll have to see the movie to find out what they're discussing. The set decorator did a masterful job setting up the sparse but eye-catching props in this room, which could easily form the basis for the style in the next Renovation Hardware or Pottery Barn collection. (Let's hope so: I want that lamp) (Image courtesy DreamWorks Pictures)

One of the most memorable characters in the book, the play and the film known as War Horse is Captain Nicholls. I won’t tell you whether he ends up being a good guy or a bad guy or if he lives or dies. He does, as most people know, buy Joey from Albert’s father and lead him off to the cavalry life.

What happens after that must be learned in a dark theater with a tub of popcorn on your lap, preferably on Christmas night.

In the film, Captain Nicholls is played by Tom Hiddleston, who can be seen in several Hollywood films right now. He plays American author F. Scott Fitzgerald in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris; he also starred in Thor and The Avengers.

When the questions turned to horses, he chose the light-hearted route, and shared some nice insights into sharing the screen with Joey.

In this interview, the articulate Mr. Hiddleston talks again about working with horses, about the themes of the film and about working with Steven Spielberg.

I think so too, Rhonda. Did you happen to see him on PBS Masterpiece’s Return to Cranford two weeks ago? (it’s on YouTube) He was super in that too. He reminds me of Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind when, in War Horse, he tilts his head and smiles at Albert as he takes Joey away from him. Except I like him a lot better!